Admission charges - season 2010/2011 (Thu 10 Jun)
During the past four seasons admission prices to games at Borough Park have remained unchanged. The board of directors decided to retain prices at the same level in recognition of the depth of the recession facing the country at large and our supporters in particular.
The club has striven to provide a successful team on the pitch and that resulted in a 4th place finish in the League and good runs in the FA Cup and in particular the FA Trophy.
The club has continued to endure heavy overheads. Despite playing in a Northern division we have to travel to places like Gloucester and Boston. Our travel costs have increased by over 30%, match officials by 25%, and due to the number of more high profile games being played, stewarding costs have risen by 80%.
This, coupled with the ever increasing demands of ground improvements, new floodlights and putting an excellent team on the pitch has necessitated a rise in admission prices for the forthcoming season.
Adult admission will be £12 with concessions at £7. Adult season tickets will be £215, concessions £125.Under 11’s will be able to obtain a season ticket for £40.
Workington AFC is certainly improving both on and off the field and we are sure you will understand the reasons for this decision and sincerely hope you will continue to support the club.
Alec Graham
Director, Workington AFC
Allerdale and the Derwent Valley Task Group (Fri 04 Sep)
The club attended the meeting of the Derwent Valley Task Group on Tuesday to see if we could find out what was being planned for our long term future and the future of Borough Park.
Those of you with long memories may recall that a year ago the Task Group discounted the idea of refurbishing both Borough and Derwent Parks and opted instead for the joint stadium with leisure centre attached, costing a cool £32.4 million. The plan was then to get the full council to ratify their recommendation. That never happened, and as became apparent at the meeting, there were a number of reasons for this. Firstly, the economic situation has changed drastically and all the sources where additional funding were to be sourced have, in effect, dried up. Secondly, Tesco had not signed what was called “The 106 Agreement”, in effect, agreeing to start their new store and paying for the land on the Cloffocks on which it was to be built.
Despite some protests that the original plan be adhered to, the Task Group were presented with a new option, Option C, which in effect was a plan for a new leisure centre without the shared stadium element. This new leisure centre would be built on the site of the existing Tesco. It was also planned to have 5 and 7 a-side plastic pitches, to be built on some of the land leased by Workington Town RLFC, ie behind the current Tesco store.
The council will receive c.£18 million from Tesco for the Cloffocks site; the Council intend to give Tesco c.£3 million for surrendering their current site. Saunders Boston, the architects charged with building the new leisure centre estimate the cost of the new leisure centre alone to be c.£16.1 million. It was not clear whether the cost of buying back Workington Towns land for the plastic football pitches and the up to £2.5 million to de-contaminate it were included in this figure.
It does not take a mathematical genius to work out that there will be virtually nothing left available to the Reds to improve Borough Park ! The council were keen to point out that they were planning to start a “Sports Development Fund” whereby local sports clubs could apply for funds to improve their current situation. How much would be in that fund (if anything) remains to be seen.
Allerdale were at pains to point out that the recession had meant that their original desire to spend £136 million on various projects has had to be pared back to £40 million, hence the provision of a leisure centre only. What to do with Moorclose seems to be a hot political potato, but it appears the intention is to keep it going but without its’ swimming pool.
A vote was taken and Option C was passed 6-1. That recommendation will now go to full council for ratification. It is still possible that the full council will not pass this, but I suspect, it will gain the go-ahead. Even if they go ahead, it is highly unlikely that work would start in the next 18 months.
We at Reds now need to press ahead with our own “Plan B” ie one where there is no financial help from Allerdale which is what many of us suspected would be the case all along.
Admission costs and finance (Wed 08 Jul)
There has been some criticism voiced over the £10/£5 admission fee for the Carlisle United match. It should be pointed out that this game is against a League One side and not only is the game to give the team valuable practice prior to the season starting on August 8th but also to raise revenue for the club.
It should be noted that additional costs are to be incurred for this fixture including the cost of policing, additional stewards, possible segregation costs, providing additional catering and toilet facilities.
It also should be noted that the cost of admission has remained unchanged for the past four seasons while the running costs of the club during this period has significantly increased. Transport costs alone have risen by 40% in the past four years while our utility bills have also seen significant increases.
This season has also seen a two-thirds cut in league sponsorship money received from the Football Conference due to the demise of Setanta.
The board’s determination to improve the club’s standing by the commitment show to the manager, who has signed a new three year deal, the current players and to new players can be seen. Unlike other clubs, all this is being done without incurring any debts.
We hope to see you all down at Borough Park throughout the season as without your support the club will not prosper and move forward.
New main sponsor (Fri 10 April)
Managing Director of Romar Innovate, John Rowlands has been a lifelong supporter of Workington Reds. Romar have sponsored and supported Workington Reds over many years. John is now taking part in negotiations with the board of directors, to become main club sponsors for 2009-10 campaign.
Mr Rowlands commented that he hoped the deal would be completed within the next week, this would mean Romar would be the only local company to have been first team shirt sponsors to Workington Rugby League, Whitehaven Rugby League and hopefully Workington Reds.
Romar displays continued support to local sporting activities in Cumbria. Romar not only have a record second to none for supporting local activities, in 2007, Romar set up the Romar Innovate Trust.
The Romar Innovate Trust donates over £30,000 per annum to charities and worthy causes in the local area. This is additional to Romar's support to the likes of Workington Reds.
John believes the board of directors are doing a fantastic job in difficult times with limited funds. He could not speak highly enough of Humphrey Dobie and his board of directors in keeping Workington Reds financially sound whilst operating at a high level in the football pyramid, where many of the teams operate on budgets three to five times that of Workington’s.
In Darren Edmondson and Viv Busby, Reds have a very young manager, Darren, mixed with the experienced Viv. John states, “I can now see why it is easy to understand Workington Reds’ success as I have witnessed the combination of Viv and Darren this season”.
John Rowlands has also offered his business experience and support to the current board of directors to hopefully assist in making Borough Park a better place to visit and Workington Reds as successful as they can be.
Wages re-instated (Fri 20 Feb)
In a season that has seen many Conference North clubs struggle with finances, Workington AFC are pleased to report that the wage cut implemented earlier in the season has been reversed. The wages cuts deemed necessary to protect the clubs cashflow have been dropped and players will now receive their full amount.
The team has performed well in the FA Trophy and the monies the cup run produced, coupled with the expected payment of £10,000 from Newcastle Blue Star has enabled this change to take place.
Newcastle Blue Star (Tue 03 Jan)
The club are pleased to announce that the courts have found in favour of Workington AFC in our long running dispute with Newcastle Blue Star FC. The courts judgement in favour of the Reds means Blue Star must now pay the £10,000 plus VAT owed to the Reds and also court costs.
The case went to court because of Blue Star's failure to pay the second and final installment due to the Reds following former manager Tommy Cassidy's move there.
A board meeting tomorrow night will decide how long the club give Blue Star to meet their obligations. If Blue Star fail to meet their obligations it is possible a winding-up order may be served on them.
How the other half live (Sun 25 Jan)
Fresh from the meeting of Conference chairman last week it came as no suprise to hear of the support Kings Lynn receive from their local council. The Walks Stadium received a £300,000 makeover last season as Lynn started their first season as a Blue Square North side. This season they will get new floodlights to the tune of £60,000. If the club needs any help with repairs, they only have to ask. All this the council give them yet only charge the club a peppercorn £1 per annum in rent.
Those of you with an interest in history may have heard of the Hanseatic League. This was a sort of medieval European Union. Ports in northern Europe especially Germany, traded with English ports in East Anglia like Kings Lynn and Lowestoft. Kings Lynn's council is keen to revive this spirit of trade and as a consequence have set up a friendly for Lynn with German giants SV Hamburg. Can anyone imagine Allerdale doing anything remotely like this ?
We all know of the help Thameside Council give the clubs on their patch; We see what AFC Telford United's council do for them; Blyth's local council and also Hinckley's local council fall over themselves to assist their local clubs. Just for once, wouldn't it be nice if Allerdale could actually bring themselves to bite the bullet and help Workington AFC realise their dreams and ambitions in a Borough Park stadium we could all be proud of ?
Seasons greetings (Tue 23 Dec)
The directors, officials and playing staff would like to wish all Reds supporters the compliments of the season.
MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Thank you for your continued support and hope to see you all at Fleetwood.
Finances and Allerdale BC (Fri 08 Aug)
Since the end of last season the Blue Square Football Conference has seen the demise of three of its' member clubs. Halifax Town, Boston United and Nuneaton Borough have all lost their membership of the Football Conference because of their continuing financial problems and instability.
The Board of the Blue Square Football Conference, as a consequence, have set up a monitoring system which, it is hoped, will give them an early warning about any club which is failing to fulfill its' financial obligations to the Inland Revenue (P.A.Y.E.) and the Customs and Excise (V.A.T.).
The Board of Workington A.F.C. are determined that the club will be run without incurring any unmanageable debts which has not been the case for a number of clubs at our level.
We are also determined that we will continue to make our case to Allerdale Borough Council for the retention of Borough Park as the home of the club despite the apparent desires of the officers employed by Allerdale Borough Council to persist in their quest for a “super stadium” to be shared by Workington Reds and Workington Town. The evidence is overwhelming that such a scheme would result in the demise of the Workington Football Club which we all know and love.
Our own scheme for the development of Borough Park would safeguard the future of Workington A.F.C. for many years and enable the club to be financially self-sufficient with income from both matches and the use of the facilities within the proposed stand development for regular functions.
We can not go back in time and the glories of Reds and Town are past and are very unlikely to be repeated. The geography and the population numbers of West Cumbria and district dictate that we have to “cut our coat according to our cloth”.
With travel to other more affluent football clubs being fairly easily available to the football fans of West Cumbria , no longer can we count our supporters in thousands – a number in the hundreds is more realistic.
Maybe with a successful season we can raise our level but it's down to the number of people coming through the turnstiles that our future depends. Along of course with the help that should be coming from Allerdale Borough Council – after all the land that was sold to Tesco did belong to the people of Workington and was designated for use as a sporting site. Cycling, athletics and football were specifically mentioned in the sale to the Workington Council of the day.
May I ask you to do whatever you can to make your views know to the Councillors of Allerdale Borough Council to leave them in no doubt that it is their views and their decision which matters and not the views of the paid officers who can leave Allerdale at the drop of a hat should they wish.
Colin Doorbar
Director – Workington A.F.C.
New kit supplier announced (Tue 17 Jun)
The football kit supplier for the 2008/09 season has been confirmed as Umbro, the supplier used by the England national side.
The home kit will remain the same colours as last season, while the away kit has reverted back to our 'traditional' away colour of sky blue.
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Ground Grading (Tue 15 April)
Workington AFC are very pleased to announce that the club has achieved written confirmation of the "B" ground grading.
Council Task Group visit (Sat 05 April)
The directors of Workington AFC showed Allerdale Borough Council's "Task Group" around Borough Park on Friday night. Accompanying the councillors were a number of Allerdale officials. The group looked around the stadium, asked questions and listened to the board's plans for re-development of Borough Park.
After 40 minutes the group left to visit Workington Town's Derwent Park.
Councillors remained tight lipped about which of the two options they would go for; Re-furbishment of both Borough and Derwent Parks or a "new stadium" at Derwent Park. The only information gleaned on the night was that it appears Allerdale are no longer interested in running the "new" stadium themselves and that a full consultation exercise will take place with councillors visiting stadia were ground sharing has as they put it "worked" and also where it "hasn't worked".
This suggests a decision is unlikely this month or even in May.
Student discount offer (Thu 27 March)
Workington AFC are pleased to announce that the club are offering students half price admission (£5) on production of their student cards.
Ground Grading (Wed 26 March)
Workington AFC are very pleased to announce that the club has achieved a verbal "B" grading today which will enable us to continue in Blue Square Conference North. Representatives of both the Blue Square North and the Football Association spent an hour today going round Borough Park checking that the work required to receive the "B" grading had been done. The club will receive official confirmation very shortly.
New Stadium (Wed 26 March)
Workington AFC are to host a meeting with Allerdale District Council's Task Group who are charged with deciding whether the "new" stadium will go ahead or not. The councillors will visit Borough Park on the 4th April. After visiting the Reds they will visit Workington Town at Derwent Park.
Ground Improvements (Sun 23 March)
The board are confident that the improvements needed to meet the Conference ground grading requirements are now in place.
You may have noticed that the away dugout has now been moved further away (giving the chaps in the press area a much better view by the way !).
An extra place has been added to the press box to give the six berths that are required;
Concrete paths have been laid from the four turnstiles behind the Town End of the ground into the Town End;
Hand washbasins have been installed in the stewards room and in the players treatment room;
"Keep off the grass" signs have been prepared and are ready for installation.
The club is awaiting final confirmation that the provision of portaloos will be acceptable to the League although the club believes that this has been verbally agreed.
There will be a Conference ground inspection on Wednesday 26th March.
Allerdale and the "New Stadium" (Sun 23 March)
Latest indications are that Allerdale Borough Council will make a decision on this issue sometime in April or May 2008. This long running saga has had a number of decisions deferred, the latest being January 2008. This has impacted on the club regarding toilet facilities, hence the "portaloo" situation mentioned above. We will keep you posted with additional information when we receive it.